Improvement in automatic wagon-brakes



L. L. at W. E. JOHNSON. Automatic Wagon-Brake.

' Patented Jun 24,1879.

Z/QZW/ TTORNEYS.

"FETUS. PMOTb-UTHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYCOURGUS L. JOHNSON AND WILLIAM E. JOHNSON, OF ALANTHUS GROVE,ASSIGNORS TO THEMSELVES AN M. D. FEATHER, OF RICHMOND, 'MO.

IMPROVEMENT IN Al.lTOMAT|C WAGON-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,856, dated'June 24,1879; application file-d April 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, LYGOURGUS L. J GEN- SONand WILLIAM E. JoHNsoN, of Alanthus Grove, in the county of Gentry andState of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSelf-Acting VVagon-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of the running-gearing of a wagon to which ourimproved brake has been applied. Fig. 2 is a view of the under side ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a detail top view of the catch for the foot-lever.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved brake for wagonsand carriages, which shall be so constructed that the brake will beapplied by the action of the horses in holding back, and with a forceexactly proportioned to the forward pressure of the load, which willallow the brake to be locked in position when off, so that the wagon canbe backed without applying the brake, and when on, so that the brakewill remain applied even when the horses are detached, and which shallbe simple in construction and reliable and convenient in use.

The invention consists in bending a bolt into a semicircular form, andsecuring it at the end to a U-strap on the front end of tongue,

and in combining it with the neck-yoke lever, as hereinafter described.

A represents the rear axle, B the forward axle, O the rear hounds, D theforward hounds, E the reach, and F the tongue, of the runninggearing ofa wagon. G is the brakebar, which slides in keepers H, attached to therear hounds, O, and to its ends are attached the brake-shoes I. To thebrake-bar G is attached the forked forward end of the rod J, the rearend of which is pivoted to the end of the short upper arm of the leverK.

The forward ends of the forked rod J are passed through the brake-bar G,and have screw threads out upon them to receive the jam nuts 3, whichare screwed upon them upon the opposite sides of the said brake-bar Gr,so that the wear of the brake-shoes I may. be taken up by adjusting thesaid jam-nuts j.

The lever K is pivoted to a support, L, at-

tached to the rear axle, A, and to the end of its long lower arm ispivoted the rear end of the rod M. The rod M passes through a hole inthe upwardly-projectin g rear end of the bar N, and has a hook formedupon its forward end to hook into a hole in the said bar N. Severalholes are formed in the bar N to receive the hook of the rod M, so thatthe said rod and bar may be lengthened and shortened to correspond withthe adjustment of the wagon gearing. The bar N passes through a keeper,0, attached to the lower side of the forward axle, B, and to its forwardend is pivoted the rear end of the rod P. The forward end of the rod Pis pivoted to the lower end of the foot-lever Q, which passes throughand is pivoted in a slot in the rear part of the tongue F.

The upper end of the lever Q has a foot-rest formed upon it, andprojects into such a position that it may be operated by the driver withhis foot. To the lower end of the footlever Q is pivoted the rear end ofthe rod It, the forward end of which is pivoted to the lower end of thelever S.

The lever S is pivoted to the forward end of the tongue F by 'a bolt, 8,which is bent into a semicircular form, and its ends are secured to aU-strap, f, which is attached to the for ward end of the tongue F, sothat one horse may get in advance of the other without applying thebrake. This same thing may be accomplished by connecting the neck-yoke Twith the upper end of the lever S bya swiveljoint. With thisconstruction the action of the horses in holding back will apply thebrakes, and the brakes will be withdrawn from the wheels as soon as thehorses begin to draw.

To the rear part of the tongue F, at the side of the slot through whichthe lever Q passes, is attached an arched bar, U, in the edge of whichare formed two notches to receive the said lever Q. When the brake isapplied the lever Q will be inclined to the rearward, and may be pushedinto the rear notch of the arched bar U to hold the brake locked againstthe wheels when the horses are not holding back, and even when thehorses are detached.

When the brake is off, the lever Q is inclined forward, and may bepushedinto the forward notch of the arched'bar U, so that thehorses may backthe wagon without applying the brake.

V is a spring attached to the lower side of the tongue F to bear againstthe lever Q and prevent it from entering either of the notches of thearched bar U. The joint between the bar N and the rod P allows the wagonto be turned Without interfering with the brake, and allows the brake tobe applied when the wagon is cramped as well as when it is straight.

Having thus described our invention, we

a 1. Ina wagon-brake, the bolt is, bent into a semicircular form andsecured at the ends to a U-strap, f, on the front end of tongue to alalow the neck-yoke to turn with safety.

LYOOURGUS LEVI JOHNSON. WILLIAM EWING JOHNSON.

' Witnesses:

WM. MAIN, E. E. RIDGELL.

